The Captive Maiden

In this story loosely based on the Cinderella fairy tale, Gisela is determined to get an invitation to the ball being thrown for the duke's son, Valten, but meeting him may not lead to her happily-ever-after.

Melanie Dickerson is my favorite author for sure. This book: The Captive Maiden is very loosely based on Cinderella. A nice story from the Hagenheim series. It is written in a way that focuses on both Gisela and Valten's viewpoint. Very interesting to read. I would definitely recommend this book to all.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so exciting that I couldn't put down the book. Anybody would love this book. I love the dress on the book cover. I think this book is one of my favourite Melanie Dickerson books. 😃

The only thing I regret with this book is not picking it up earlier in time. The dress of Gisela, the selfless and beautiful protagonist of this story, caught my eye a while ago. With doubt, I borrowed it and read it. This book blew me away completely with its twist on the classical story of Cinderella, made kind of obvious from the cover and start. However, this would be by far one of my favourite reads, as it is a medieval spin of a fairytale with adventure, romance, and suspense. In fact, all the books by this author regarding fairytales in these times are well written. The storyline moves in a way that readers cannot even think to expect and know exactly what will happen next! In reality, the classic fairytale has been fleshed out and brought to life, and readers should definitely give this book a shot! 5/5 - @Siri of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library

Soooooo Good!!!! I love Gisela and Valten! not in a forever way but just a characters way!! I love it how Sophie was pregnant and I really hope there are more books to do with this subject!!! if you can I vote you read it!!!!

I was looking forward to this book as I've liked the author's other ones, but it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. I liked how she worked with the Cinderella plot. Valten was a good male character, for once not a romantic, but I wish the author would not write from the guy's perspective. I had a hard time believing everything and found it a bit boring.

AAAAAAHHHH YAY!!!!!!! MY LIBRARY FINALLY GOT THIS!!!! So, I read this several months ago, but I had to get it from another library. Now it's here!! *so excited* Anywho, this is my second favorite book by Melanie Dickerson after The Merchant's Daughter, which I love to death. This book I almost love just as much. Gisella is a great, strong female lead, and I love the fact that she tells herself she doesn't care so she doesn't hurt herself/cause herself grief/pain. It's just so like that in real life, and I've often hid my own pain/grief from others too. And Valten. AAHH, I LOVE YOU VALTEN!!!! ALMOST AS MUCH AS RANULF FROM THE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER!!!!!!! He's so strong and silent, but yet has a sweet exterior, and will do anything for his lady. I love that. The plot was good, and I liked the twist toward the end. I COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN. Sure, I tried the first chapter and couldn't quite get through it at first (at least, I think that's what happened), but it's gets sooo much better and more paced toward the middle and ending. I probably liked it more because I read this before The Fairest Beauty, which technically should have come first, but I liked this one LOADS better than The Fairest Beauty. GREAT READ. READ IT AND THE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER, AND ALL OF DICKERSON'S BOOKS!!!!!

Summary

so there's a girl called Gisela who's mom died and her dad remarried a evil hag and then died. Gisela kind of has a crush on Valten since she was 14 and a dukes son called Valten who does jousting(sword fighting) and is starting to look for a wife but he has a mortal enemy called ruexner who does something to gsela< or did he? .....